Six new cases of foot-and-mouth in Britain

Six new cases of foot-and-mouth have been confirmed as the latest surge of the outbreak continues.

Two cases were discovered at Skipton, North Yorkshire, and another two were found at Clitheroe, Lancashire.

The remaining cases were both discovered at Penrith, Cumbria, meaning the total number of outbreaks in the UK now stands at 1,684.

Restrictions on moving livestock have been widened around the latest sites.

A Ministry of Agriculture spokesman said the measures in the Settle and Clitheroe areas would come into effect immediately.

Restrictions have been extended to the east to include the area between Wharfedale and Nidderdale and to the south east to Otley and Bingley.

The Government's chief scientific adviser Professor David King last month signalled that the outbreak could effectively be over in time for the General Election.

But earlier this week he admitted that a fresh bout of cases in some areas meant the disease was now likely to continue until August.